May 6, 2017 / Leslie

The Thing with Feathers by Noah Strycker

A Rapid Review

The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal about Being Human

Publisher: Tantor Audio | January 2017
Format: Audio CD: 8½ hours | Rating: 4 stars
Audio Listening Level: Easy – Intermediate

Drawing deep from personal experience, cutting-edge science, and colorful history, Noah Strycker spins captivating stories about the birds in our midst and shares the startlingly intimate coexistence of birds and humans.

What’s it about . . .
The book is divided into 3 Parts – Body, Mind, Spirit – and contains essays on thirteen different species of birds. For each bird, the author highlights a feature that is similar between avian and human behavior: Parrots that can dance, self-awareness in Magpies, cooperative nesting in Fairy Wrens, and pecking orders in chickens to name a few.

What did I think . . .
I love birds and have been watching and observing them in the wild for many years. Just the ability to fly makes them amazing creatures, but they have many other attributes. Some species can navigate their way across water or continents, you can take them far from home and they can find their way back, some are self-aware, and many are highly intelligent.

As a longtime birder, I was already aware of many amazing bird qualities, but there was still much to learn. In addition to facts and information on bird behavior, the author included his own experiences and short stories from a lifetime of observing birds.

This book will appeal to birders old and new, and even those remotely interested in birds.

Audio production . . .
The audio production was narrated by Paul Boehmer. His pleasant voice and good pacing made for easy listening.

This is the type of book that is made for audio. I often recommend non-fiction to new listeners, and this is no exception. With thirteen separate, engaging essays, the listener can find convenient points to stop and start, or listen in the car over a period of time.

Audio Sample . . .
Audio sample on the publisher’s site.

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Source: Review copy provided by Tantor Audio.
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